Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-30

Secretary Lamar Outlines the POLICY
Pursued by IIis Department.

In his forthcoming annual report Secretary La
mar will present his views in full upon the cues
ton OF the adjustment OF railroad land grants He
states that as he became familiar with the public
land 81 stem he became more and more impressed
with the fact that the public domain was being
diverted from its legitimate purpose In addition
TO the Illegal appropriation OF land through the
perversion OF the several laws for acquiring title
thereto the secretary says that the administration
OF Congressional grants OF lands to wagon and rail-
roads had given rise to enormous abuses Under
the various acts OF Congress which gave grants OF
large extent TO the railroads and provided add-
tional tracts for indemnity purposes the Land De-
partment mad Withdrawn from public appropria-
ton not only the granted limits as REQUIRED by
law, but also the lands within the Indemnity
limits at the request OF the guarantee companies
baId ,e quantities OF the public land were
respective corporations In the construction of their
roads the selection OF its lands and the uncertain
This land srant Iy Sne the
secretary, was certainly not In harmony with
the theory OF distribution OF the public domain
among tne people, and gave up to capitalists as q
basis for traffic and speculation and gigantic
financial schemes what was by the original policy
sng designed TO be homes for an In
ship and impositions practfsed upon the settlers
were greatly increased by the bold schemes OF the
lands TO which the legal title of the companies had
not been attached. and which afterward remained
IN Inc same cond1tlon for years through the
failure OF congress TO make the necessary appro-
priations for the surveysn
The secretary directs special attention to the
Gulltord Miller case and the efforts to correct
injustice done to a settler. He then proceeds to
de1ne what has been done toward adjustment,
and states that rule was laid upon the different
companies for whose benefit Withdrawals had been
made TO show cause why they should not be re-
voked some failed 10 respond, and others put In
answers asserting TO revocation cOnditiOnally.
Hearings followed and decision was subsequently
made In certain cases Two days later the orders
Withdrawing the lands within the Indemnity lin
It's and reservfng the same from settlement were
revoked, and the lands restored to the public do
main and 10 settlement, first, in the cases OF two
companies which had not answered; second, in
those winch, answering, assented the third in the
cases or the companies which set up defenSeS CON-
ing within the rulings In the opinion.
Following this action instructions were SubSe-
quently Issued to the Commissioner Of the General
Land once 10 detail all the available force In his
office 10 the work OF adjusting the road grants,
making said work special and proceeding as rap
idly as possible with the ame to the end that the
companies should be Tully protected In their just
claims and have certified TO them all the land they
were entitled TO speedily and without delay. and
the residue Of public lands disembarrassed OF cor
use and quiet enjoyment of settlers The amount
OF land restored 10 the public domain through the
orders revoking the Indemnity Withdrawals is
stated by the Commissioner OF the General Land
once 10 De u .;S23, 600 acres